Software · head to head
Retrace vs Dynatrace Logs
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Retrace end of Life scheduled for March 31, 2027; the product is being discontinued; Dynatrace Logs log ingest and processing is billed at $0.20 per GiB, separately from retention and from query
- They diverge on capability: Retrace covers Log management, Dynatrace Logs covers Log analysis.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Retrace and Dynatrace Logs actually diverge.
| Attribute | Retrace | Dynatrace Logs |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, .NET, Java, PHP, Node.js, Python | Web, Api |
| Founded | 2012 | 2005 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Retrace
- Log management
- Application performance tracking
- Error detection
- Code profiling
- Performance baselines
Only in Dynatrace Logs
- Log analysis
- AI-powered insights
- Metrics integration
- Automated root cause
Both cover
- API
- Webhooks
- REST
- Web support
- Api support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Retrace
- Log monitoringnot Dynatrace Logs
- Application performancenot Dynatrace Logs
- Security analyticsnot Dynatrace Logs
- Troubleshootingnot Dynatrace Logs
Dynatrace Logs
- Ingesting and processing application and infrastructure logsnot Retrace
- Querying logs alongside traces and metrics in one platformnot Retrace
- Log driven alerting within an existing Dynatrace deploymentnot Retrace
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Retrace
- End of Life scheduled for March 31, 2027; the product is being discontinued
- Costs escalate quickly with per-server billing model, expensive at scale
- User interface and dashboard criticisms; UI is outdated and difficult to use
- Logging latency; logs can take time to appear and are not instant
- Less mature support for Node.js, Python, and newer ecosystems
- Reporting issues where process restarts provide only timeline without root cause data
- Reliability concerns; monitoring has stopped collecting traces with no warning
Dynatrace Logs
- Log ingest and processing is billed at $0.20 per GiB, separately from retention and from query
- Querying logs is charged in addition to ingest, either pay per query or as bundled queries
- Log analytics requires the same annual platform commitment as the rest of the Dynatrace platform
Pricing, plan by plan
Retrace
Free- FreeFree
- Log management
- Application performance tracking
- Error detection
Dynatrace Logs
Free- FreeFree
- Log analysis
- AI-powered insights
- Metrics integration
Which should you pick?
Choose Retrace if
- You need log management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, .NET, Java, PHP, Node.js, Python.
- You also want application performance tracking.
Choose Dynatrace Logs if
- You need log analysis.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want ai-powered insights.
Questions people ask
- Is Retrace or Dynatrace Logs better?
- Neither clearly leads. Retrace starts at Free and Dynatrace Logs at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Retrace or Dynatrace Logs?
- Retrace starts at Free and Dynatrace Logs at Free.
- Does Retrace or Dynatrace Logs run on more platforms?
- Retrace runs on Web, .NET, Java, PHP, Node.js, Python. Dynatrace Logs runs on Web, Api.
- Can I use Retrace for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Retrace best used for?
- Retrace is most often used for log monitoring, application performance, security analytics, troubleshooting. Of those, log monitoring and application performance are not what Dynatrace Logs is typically brought in for.
- What can Retrace do that Dynatrace Logs cannot?
- Retrace covers Log management, Application performance tracking, Error detection, Code profiling. Dynatrace Logs covers Log analysis, AI-powered insights, Metrics integration, Automated root cause. Both handle API, Webhooks, REST, Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Retrace: What does Retrace monitor?
Retrace provides application performance monitoring (APM), centralized log management, error tracking, code profiling, and real user monitoring (RUM). It aggregates logs from applications and servers in one place.
SourceRetrace: What programming languages does Retrace support?
Retrace supports .NET, .NET Core, PHP, Node.js, Ruby, Python, and Java applications. Support for Node.js, Python, and newer ecosystems is noted as less mature.
SourceRetrace: Is Retrace being discontinued?
Yes. Retrace will reach End of Life on March 31, 2027. Users should plan to migrate to alternative solutions.
SourceRetrace: What databases and services does Retrace integrate with?
Retrace supports SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, MongoDB, Elasticsearch, and cloud platforms like AWS and Azure.
Source